Re-elected President Gašparovič splits Slovakia

Incumbent Ivan Gašparovič has defeated his rival Iveta Radičová in a runoff ballot for the president's office in Slovakia. The chief editor of the liberal daily Sme gives vent to his frustration: "The victorious Ivan Gašparovič has split our country in two. He distinguished between good and bad Slovaks. ... The hopes for a modern, non-communist, non-Meciarist [Vladimir Mečiar, former former Prime Minister of Slovakia] and anti-nationalistic country have been dashed. For the majority of the population these are not fundamental values. On the contrary. ... We will pay an enormous price for this victory. Gašparovič and the coalition that supports him have perhaps not yet realised this - but they now have a scorched country in their hands. ... After such a battle there should be a chance to reunite the country. That will now be very difficult, if anybody attempts it at all."

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